At one time, asbestos and lead paint were the substances that caused the most headaches for people trying to buy or sell homes. Now, it’s mold. Because of increased awareness of the potential health hazards of toxic mold in housing, both home buyers and home sellers need to be vigilant.
Mold Inspection and Home Buyers
Buying a home infested with toxic mold can cost you thousands of dollars in clean-up fees. Some mold problems cannot be eradicated, which would leave you with a house that could not ever be lived in or resold.
If you’re in the market for a new place to live, take a thorough tour of the property and search for any signs of water damage, which might have created hidden toxic mold. Seriously consider having a professional mold inspection before you buy, especially if the property is in the most humid states — Florida, the Gulf Coast, and the Pacific Northwest — or if the property lies within a flood plain. Tell your real estate agent that you want your offer to buy a house to have a contingency clause that the house be certified mold-free; if an inspection uncovers mold, your offer can stipulate that you have the option to back out of the negotiations without penalty.
Mold Cleanup Advice for Property Owners
Before you put your property on the market or put up a For Rent sign, check the living and storage spaces for hidden mold. If you find any indication of dampness or water damage, consider having a professional mold inspection. It’s better to discover a problem and clean it up before you enter into any property transaction. Don’t think about painting or plastering over mold; you cannot kill mold this way, and you might even be giving mold the conditions it needs to thrive. Either take all necessary safety precautions and do the cleanup yourself, or hire a professional mold eradicator.
Some states now require “mold disclosure” notices from people who want to sell or rent their property, advising prospective buyers or tenants about the possible dangers and alerting them if mold previously has been found and eradicated on the property. Find out what laws apply in your area to protect yourself from future liability.
If you would like to be referred to an attorney with experience in handling mold-related legal issues, please fill out the form on this page.
Builders and Agents
If you are building your home or contracting to have one built, consider ventilation and air circulation to prevent mold. Choose mold-safe building materials, such as drywall that has no paper liner. Consider drainage of the land around your home, and take adequate measures to seal your foundation against water leakage. Best practices for builders include keeping moisture out and being sure moisture that does occur in the house is not trapped, but can evaporate quickly and naturally.
If you are a real estate agent, be especially cautious about determining whether mold is or has been present in any property you represent. A 2002 Louisiana State University sampling of 1,000 random real estate agents found that 19 percent of them already considered toxic mold a serious issue in their businesses. As mold awareness has increased, that number undoubtedly has increased as well.
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